Grain separator



Aug. 29, 1950 O wELcH 2,520,667

GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 29, 1950 o. WELCH 2,520,667

' GRAIN SEPARAT 0R Fi'led Jan. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mentor QA/e 6012/ Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRAIN SEPARATOR Oswald Wel'ch, Cheadle Heath, England, assignor to Horny Simon Limited, "Cheadle Heath, England, a British company Application January 15, 1947, Serial No. 722,144

In Great Britain January 23, 1946 4 Claims. 1

This invention has for its object to provide improved means for separating mixed grains or materials having different widths or diameters. The said separating means are particularly adapted for the separation of thin oats, darnel, and foreign seeds of small size from wheat or other grain, and for the grading of cats in oat mills before shelling, or wheat before milling.

My improved separating machine is of the type comprising discs which are revolved edgewise in the material undergoing separation and which lift grains having a certain characteristic and then deposit them in troughs or conveyors, the remaining mass of grains passing through the machine by gravity assisted if desired by the propelling action of blades upon arms in the hollow centres of the discs. Known machines make a separation according to the length Of the grains whereas according to my present invention the separation is made according to the width or diameter of the grains.

The invention comprises an annular disc having in one or both of its opposite faces long grooves disposed radially or set at an angle to a radius, each groove being slightly undercut at one side.

The invention further comprises bevelling the inner end of each long groove so that grains which slide down the groove are delivered away from the face of the disc.

Referring to the accompanying explanatory drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of part of a separating disc constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front view of part of a disc showing a modified disposition of the grooves therein.

The annular discs as a which are revolved edgewise in the grain mass, have each long grooves b on one or both of their opposite sides, such grooves being radially disposed in the faces of the discs as shown in Figure 1, or being set at an angle to a radius as shown in Figure 4, and each groove being slightly undercut at its trailing edge or side as shown at c in Figure 3, so that the grooves lift grains which are Of a width which permits them to pass into and be retained in the grooves as the disc revolves until as any particular groove lifts the grain therein to a certain height above the level of the grain mass in the machine, the grain slides down the groove which :2 may have an open inner end or may have a beveliedinner end (see Figure 2) to deliver the grain away from the face-of the disc into catch troughs as d, spouts, conveyors or the like through which it is conveyed out of the machine.

It will be appreciated that the grooves extend completely round the disc face or faces.

Th grooves may be rectangular, semi-circular or of other shape in cross section tosuit the grains being dealt with. The grooves may be open at both ends, or may be closed at both ends, with the end towards the inner periphery of the disc bevelled or inclined to allow the grain to slide out of the groove by gravity when the angle of the groove exceeds the angle of repose of the grains.

The mass of grain in: the machine may be propelled through the machine by impeller blades upon the disc arms e, or by making such arms into impeller blades, within the hollow centre of each disc;

The mode of operation of the separator is as follows: As a disc rotates through the mass of grain, any grains of sufficient thinness enter the grooves and are lifted by the trailing edge thereof. As the disc continues to rotate, such grains are lifted above the grain mass, and when the groove in which a grain is carried reaches a sulficient inclination the grain slides down the groove towards the centre of the disc and falls into the catch trough which conveys it out of the machine.

What I claim is:

1. In a separator of the type in which a plurality of discs are positioned so that the lower portions thereof rotate through a mass of ma.- terial of different particle size, a disc structure for separating particles of a particular diameter comprising a rotatable annular body having outer and inner concentric peripheral edges and having a plurality of straight elongated grooves therein having inner and outer terminal ends and each groove having a major axis and a minor axis and extending uninterruptedly from adjacent the said outer edge to at least a point adjaeent the said inner edge, each groove having uniformly spaced side walls and a base defining a chamber of a depth, width and length suflicient to receive and hold a plurality of particles of the diameter to be separated in end to end relationship when the groove passes through the said mass of particles, one of said side walls constituting a trailing side wall with respect to the direction in which the disc rotates, said trailing side wall being slightly undercut to pick up and support the said plurality of particles of a particular diameter and the base of the groove at the 3 inner terminal end thereof constituting a discharge surface whereby as the disc rotates in the mass of particles a plurality of particles of a particular diameter, which is slightly less than the width of the groove, are picked up by the groove supported by said trailing side wall and upon continued rotation of the disc and as the groove with the particles therein moves upwardly V out of the said mass the particles'in the groove slide longitudinally thereof toward the said inner peripheral edge and over the said discharge surface toward the axis of rotation of the disc.

2. A separating disc as defined in and by claim 1 in which the major axis of each groove'is disposed at such an angle to a radius of the body that the inner terminal end of each groove leads 1 the outer terminal end as the body rotates.

3. In a separator of the type in which a, plurality of discs are positioned so that the lower portions thereof rotate through a mass of material of different particle size, a disc structure for separating particles of a particular diameter comprising a rotatable annular body having outer'and inner concentric peripheral edges and having a plurality of straight elongated grooves therein having inner and outer terrmnal ends and each groove having a major axis and a minor axis and extending uninterruptedly from adjacent the said outer edge to at least a point adjacent thesaid inner edge, each groove having uniformly spaced side walls and a base defining a chamber of a depth, width and length sufficient to receive and hold a plurality of particles'of the diameter to be separated in end to 1 end relationship when the groove passes through 4 particular diameter and the base of the groove adjacent the inner terminal end being beveled upwardly toward the face of the body and constituting an inclined discharge surface whereby as the disc rotates in the mass of particles 2. plurality of particles of a particular diameter,

'which is slightly less than the Width of the groove, are picked up by the groove supported by said trailing side wall and upon continued rotation of the disc and as the groove with the particles therein moves upwardly out of the said mass the particles in the groove slide longitudinally thereof toward the said inner peripheral edge and over the said inclined discharge surface toward the axis of rotation of the disc.

4. In a separating machine as defined in and by claim 3, collecting means for receiving separated particles, and the major axis of each groove being disposed at such an angle to a radius of the body that the inner terminal end of the groove leads the outer terminal end as the body rotates. V

OSWALD WELCH.

REFERENCES CITED :The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

